Machine for printing webs of paper base and similar fibrous web materials



Feb. 16, 1960 E. A. CRAWFORD 2,925,034

MACHINE FOR PRINTING WEBS OF PAPER BASE AND SIMILAR FIBROUS WEB MATERIALS Original Filed April 29, 1953 I 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 l I Q5 L Q 7 Q INVENTOR 1 EARL A.cR.4wF o 0 Feb. 16, 1960 A, CRAWFORD 2,925,034

MACHINE FOR PRINTING WEBS OF PAPER BASE AND SIMILAR FIBROUS WEBVMATERIALS Original Filed April 29, 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR EARL 4.12mi? Br WW Arr'r Feb. 16, 1960 E. A. CRAWFORD 2,925,034

MACHINE FOR PRINTING WEBS OF PAPER BASE AND SIMILAR FIBROUS WEB MATERIALS Original Filed April 29. 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR EARL A. CRAWFORD Feb. 16, 1960 CRAWFORD 2,925,034

MACHINE FOR PRINTING WEBS OF PAPER BASE AND SIMILAR FIBROUS WEB MATERIALS Original Filed April 29. 1953 l2 Sheets-Sheet 4 m g 7 EL'JO O I" '3 33 n -o l N I I l I w o q Q N Q 5 on a INV EARL A. OIMWFOR Feb. 16, 1960 CRAWFQRD 2,925,034

MACHINE FOR PRINTING WEBS OF PAPER BASE AND SIMILAR FIBROUS WEB MATERIALS Original Filed April 29, 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR EARL ,4 cm WFORD Feb. 16, 1960 E. A. CRAWFORD 2,925,034

MACHINE FOR PRINTING WEBS OF PAPER BASE AND SIMILAR Original Filed April 29, 1953 FIBROUS WEB MATERIALS l2 Sheets-Sheet 6 Vkm N at

INVENTOR EARL AcRAwFo/w ByWM AI'TK Feb. 16, 1960 E. A. CRAWFORD 2,925,034 MACHINE FOR PRINTING WEBS OF PAPER BASE AND SIMILAR FIBROUS WEB MATERIALS Original Filed April 29, 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 C) C) (D J 3 ug O O O O Q IN V E N TOR EARL A. (RAW BVWWM Arr? Feb. 1 1960 E A. CRAWFORD 2,925,034

MACHINE FOR iRINTING WEBS OF PAPER BASE AND SIMILAR FIBROUS WEB MATERIALS Original Filed April 29. 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR EARL A. CRAWFORD ATTK Feb. 16, 1960 E A. CRAWFORD 2,925,034

MACHINE FOR I RINTING WEBS OF PAPER BASE AND SIMILAR FIBROUS WEB MATERIALS 7 Original Filed April 29, 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 FIG.

INVENTOR EARL A. CPA Z? Arr'r Feb. 16, 1960 CRAWFORD 2,925,034

MACHINE FOR PRINTING WEBS OF PAPER BASE AND SIMILAR FIBROUS WEB MATERIALS Original Filed April 29, 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 FIG. /2.

N A R w r INVENTOR EARL ACRAFORD ATTK Feb. 16, 1960 CRAWFORD 2,925,034

MACHINE FOR PRINTING WEBS OF PAPER BASE AND SIMILAR FIBROUS WEB MATERIALS Original Filed April 29. 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet ll INVENTOR EARL ACRAg-Q D ATT'K Feb. 16, 1960 CRAWFORD 2,925,034

MACHINE FOR PRINTING WEBS OF PAPER BASE AND SIMILAR FIBROUS WEB MATERIALS Original Filed April 29. 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 c r r United StatesiPatent MACHINE FOR PRINTING WEBS OF PAPER BASE AND SIMILAR FIBROUS WEB MATERIALS Earl A. Crawford, Warwick, R.I., assignor to Bird and Son, Inc, East Walpole, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts 13 Claims. (Cl. 101-157) The present invention relates to an improved machine for roller printing, coating or otherwise processing webs of paper base and similar fibrous web materials.

More specifically the invention relates to a printing machine which is adapted for placing, in registered relation with one another, successive accurately registered impressions upon a webbed material of the general type suitable for floor and wall covering and the like which is formed from a paper base or similar fibrous web materials which may be impregnated with asphalt or other material and having a limited stretch characteristic.

This application is a division of applicants co-oending application Serial No. 351,970 filed April 29, 1953, for Machine and Method of Processing Webs of Paper Base and Similar materials, now US. Patent No. 2,809,582.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a printing press of the type herein set forth which is particularly adapted for the printing of a web which travels as a dead sheet along a horizontal run and which may be of substantial width, for example, 9 to 12 ft., or more.

In accordance with the above stated object a feature of the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a drive support roller beneath the web and in the location of the impression and gravure rollers in supporting relation to one another above the web so that a roller assembly of maximum strength is provided which substantially eliminates any sag in said rollers and thus avoids any consequent distortion of the printing operation.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved press of the general type described which is particularly well adapted for printing, coating or otherwise processing the upper side of the rapidly traveling horizontally disposed web.

Another feature of the invention in accordance with the objects above stated includes a novel and improved disposition of the inking devices associated therewith to provide for the more efiicient disposition and control of the ink during the inking operation.

Another feature of the invention consists in the provision of an improved doctor blade assembly including pneumatic cylinders spaced at relatively frequent intervals along the length of the doctor blade to provide a yielding but efiicient means for removing the large quantities of excess ink supplied to the gravure roller in accordance with the invention.

The several features of the invention together with advantages to be obtained thereby will be readily undera pressure roller, a first roller printing unit designated at 'ice Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the first printing unit looking from the right hand end of the machine;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed view in elevation looking from the front of the machine of the carriage associated with the first printing unit;

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4 looking from the right;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed view in elevation of the carriage associated with the first printing unit looking from the rear side of the machine; r

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4 looking from the left side of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailed view showing a portion of the doctor blade assembly, including three of the control cylinders for the doctor blade, forming part of the" first printing unit;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the doctor blade assembly, I and of the inking devices forming part of the first print:

ing unit looking from the rear side of the machine;

Fig. 10 is a somewhat diagrammatic sectional view,

on a smaller scale, of the ink pan and ink circulating connections looking from the rear side of the machine;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the inking pan and ink feeding and drainage connections shown in Figs. 9 and 10; Fig. 12 is a view in elevation looking from the right hand end of the machine of a second printing unit;

matic controls for effectinglongitudinal and transverse adjustments; v

Fig. 14 is a view in elevation of substantially the shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical connections for controlling the solenoid operated air valves for moving the doctor blade into and out of operative position.

Referring to the drawings the multiple impression printing machine herein disclosed as embodying in a preferred form the several features of the invention comprises a web draw-in unit generally designated at A in Fig. 1 having a drive support roller and a cooperating B, an associated drying oven C, a second roller printing unit D, an associated drying oven E, and a web drawout unit, generally indicated at F, comprising a drive support roller and a cooperating pressure draw-off roller. These units are constructed and arranged to cause the web of material to be processed, which in the preferred form of the invention is floor covering material, to pass through the several units in a straight line run.

The several operating units of the machine referred to are driven in synchronism with one another by means of a torque shaft 30 which runs along the full length of the machine at the rear side adjacent the floor level, and is connected through individual reduction gear boxes with each of the separate units. The torque shaft 30 is continuously driven from any convenient source of power which may be an electric motor not shown.

First roller printing unit The two roller printing units indicatedat B and D, in

Fig. 1 which are supported and arranged to impart successive impressions registered with relation to one another to the webbed material during the run between the draw-in roller unit A and the draw-out unit F are with only slight differences, hereinafter specifically pointed out, identical in construction. Referring specifically to Figs. 3 to 11 inclusive, the first printing unit designated at B comprises generally a fixed base assembly (see Fig.

3) including a base 200, .a front standard 202, .a rear.

tandard 2.0.4 and a .s. .ss mem e 206, n a r l tively movable upper assembly in the form of a carriage 210 which is supported for forward and back movementtransversely of the feeding web on guideways 208 formed in the upper ends of the respective Standards 202, 204. The operating parts of the first printing unit include specifically a driving support roller 212 (see for example Figs. 3 and 6) which is mounted beneath the traveling web in the standards 202, 204 and a roller printing mechanism which issupported above the traveling web on the carriage 210. This mechanismcomprises a transfer roller 214 mounted on the carriage directly above the driving roller 212, a cooperating gravure roller 216 which is mounted at that side of the transfer roller with the draw-in unit A and'slightly above the transfer roller. The transfer roller 214 and gravure roller 216 are maintained at all times in continuous rolling contact in the carriage. An ink reservoir 218, and a doctor blade 220 (see Fig. 9) also are mounted on the carriage 210.

, The drive for the transfer and gravure rollers 214, 216 of the first printing unit A is taken from the torque shaft 30 through a reduction gear box 222 onto a driving shaft 224 which extends between the rear and front standards 202, 204 slightly above the level of the base 200. vertically disposed power output shaft 226 from the gear box 222 at the rear side of the machine has splined thereto adjacent its upper end a bevel gear 228 which meshes with a bevel gear 230 secured to'the rear end of the driving support roller 212.

A control mechanism is provided which is operative to move the drive support roller 212 vertically between araised operative and low inoperative position. To this end the support roller212 is supported at each end in bearing blocks 232 which are vertically movable in guideways formed in the respective front and rear standards 2, 204. Vertical movement of the bearing blocks 232 and driving support roller 212 is effected by means of a rock shaft236 which is mounted from the standards 202, 204 beneath and parallel to the support roller 212. Toward each end, the shaft 236 has secured thereto a cam 238 which engages beneath the respective bearing blocks 232. Movement of the rock shaft in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from-the front of the machine causes the bearing blocks to be engaged by high portions of the respective cams to raise the support driving roller 212 to its driving position. For rocking the shaft 236 there is provided a pneumatic cylinder 240 which is pivotally connected at its lower end to a bracket 241 on the base 200.

Ina smuch as the pneumatic system by means of which pneumatic cylinder 240 is controlled forms no part of the present invention and is fully set forth in the parent application, Serial No. 351,970, above referred to, no specific description thereof is believed necessary.

The transfer roller 214 and the gravure roller 216 are positively driven at the same linear rate with the drive support roller 212. The drive is taken from the torque shaft and reduction gear box 222 through driving shaft 224 to the front side of the machine, thence through bevel gears 248, 250 onto a vertical drive shaft 252. At its upper end the shaft 252 is fitted with a bevel gear 254 which meshes with a bevel gear 256 formed integrally with a large spur gear 258 which is supported to turn in a fixed bearing 260 provided in the upper portion of the front standard 202. A gear 262 (see Fig. 4) secured to the forward end of the transfer roller 214 meshes with the spur gear 258 and also with .a gear 264 secured to the forward end of the gravure roller 216. The spur gear 258 is of substantial width so that the transfer roller drive gear 262 will always be meshed with the spur gear'258 irrespective of the transverse adjustment of the carriage 210.

First printing unit carriage The carriage 210 on which the several elements of the printing unit are mounted comprises two end brackets or castings 266, 268, each formed with guides to engage with the guideways 208 on the respective front and rear standards 202, 204. The end castings 266, 268 are rigidly secured together by a connecting member, including specifically a heavy reinforced rail 270 (see Figs. 5, 8, 9) which carries a doctor blade assembly, hereinafter to be described. Th transfer roller 214 is supported on the carriage 210 in bearing blocks 272 which are vertically adjustable in guideways 274 in the respective carriage end castings 266, 268. Individual adjustment of each of these bearing blocks is obtained by means of manually adjustable connections, including a central shaft 275 secured to the bearing block 272 having an externally threaded sleeve 276 supported against axial movement on the shaft 275, and rotated by meansof a hand wheel 277. The sleeve 276 is threaded into a fixed nut formed in the end bracket241 and is adapted to be locked in position by means of a locking not which is actuated by a locking hand wheel 278.

The gravure roller 216 is supported at each end in bearing blocks 280 which are mounted in guideways 282 (see Fig. 4) in the respective carriage end castings 266, 268 for adjustment in a horizontal plane toward and away from the impression transfer roller 124. This adjustment is effected simultaneously for both ends of the gravure roller through connections (Figs. 5, 6 and 7) which include a controlshaft 284 which extends across the width of the machine being supported at one end in a bracket 286 on the end casting 26 6 of the carriage, and on its other end on a bracket 288 on the end casting 268. The control shaft 284 is connected near its forward end by bevel gears 290 with a vertically disposed worm shaft 292 which acts through a worm and worm gear 294 to rotate a screw threaded bearing block adjusting shaft 296 (Figs. 4 and 5). The shaft 296 is connected with the bearing block 280 carried on the end casting 266. The position of the rear bearing block I is simultaneously and identically controlled from the control shaft 284 through operating connections which include bevel gears 298, a worm shaft 300, a Worm and gear connections 302, and a bearing block adjusting screw 304. The adjustment described can be made manually from the rear side of the machine by means of a hand wheel 306 (Fig. 6) mounted on the control shaft 284 or from the front of the machine, if desired, by means of a hand wheel 308 (Fig. 4), mounted on the front end of control shaft 284.

Adjustment of the carriage 210 in a forward and back direction across the width'of the feeding web is effected by means of an adjusting screw which is adapted to be manually operated by means of a hand wheel 316 (see Fig. 5 normally disconnected through the dis-engagement of an actuating clutch 314. This mechanism for effecting transverse adjustment of the carriage associated with the first printing unit is not specifically shown but is identical with that hereinafter described and more specifically illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14 for controlling the transvere position of the carriage 416 for the second printing unit.

A feature of'the invention consists of the construction and arrangement of each of the printing units, whereby the impression roller and impression transfer roller are mounted above the feeding web so that the several colors of the design are applied to the upper side of the web. This procedure has the advantage that the operator can at all times observe the progress and quality of the printing operation, and provides a most eificient arrangement of the web and ink spread thereon for drying. This arrangement, however, has been found to present a difficult problem to control and to' maintain an accurate and even flow of ink to the surface of the feeding strip, and to prevent leakage of ink with consequent blotting of the printed surface.

Features of applicants construction which contribute particularly to the eflicient operation of the printing mechanism include a construction and arrangement of the support driving roller, impression transfer roller, and gravure roller which will provide a maximum support and rigidity of construction, of these rollers, well adapted for producingan accurate impression over any desired width of material up to and including 12 feet or more. Another feature consists in the construction and arrangement of the ink supply system which includes an ink spraying device by means of which ink in considerable volume is sprayed against the gravure roller, the excess being stripped from the surface of the roller by the doctor blade, collected in a shallow pan interposed beneath the gravure roller and spray header, and returned through drainage ducts to supply. Other features relate to a novel construction and arrangement of the doctor blade in its supporting and actuating mechanism to remove all excess ink from the roller, and at the same time to insure an even application of ink to the transfer roller and to the surface of the material.

The roller printing units provided in accordance with the present invention are well adapted for imparting an impression to a web of paper base or similar material while stretched taut in a fiat straight line run so that substantially all of the natural elasticity of the material has been removed. The cooperating supporting and printing rollers are required to be of such length as to span a web, which may be 12 feet or more or less in width, without any tendency to sag which would produce uneven or faint printing impressions particularly across the middle of the web. With the illustrated construction the necessary rigidity is obtained by a novel arrangement of the printing mechanism in which a driving sup port roller of sufficient size and strength, to ensure the desired rigidity, is located beneath the traveling strip,

the cooperating transfer roller is located above the traveling strip in position to be supported along its full length by the driving support roller, and the gravure roller is mounted slightly above the level of the transfer roller where, because of the direction of rotation, the gravure roller will be in turn supported along its length by the transfer roller.

As shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11 the ink supply system, for the printing unit, comprises a reservoir or trough in the form of a copper pan 218 having an arcuate' trough 332 extending beneath and along the length of the gravure roller 216. The pan is formed at the side away from the transfer roller 214 with a raised lateral extension 334 which receives the longitudinally extending header 335 and feeding pipes 336 thereto from which ink is sprayed onto the gravure roller. The pan is also provided, toward each end thereof, with arectangular outlet duct 338 which extends laterally beneath the lateral extension 334, and thence to the front and rear sides of the machine respectively to downwardly extending exhaust ducts 340. It will be noted from an inspection of Figs. 9, and 11 that the outlet ducts 338 connect with a portion of the arcuate trough 332 substantially above its lowest point providing a dam 341 between the trough and each of said outlet ducts so that a puddle of ink is at all times retained in the trough 332 at a level to continuously apply ink to the underside of the rotating gravure roller. The pan is rigidly secured in place on the carriage by suitable means. Ink is supplied to the ink spray header 335 from the front of the machine through an. inlet pipe 342 which extends across the machine at the side of the pan away from the transfer roller and has secured thereto, at intervals, the feed pipes 336, above referred to, which connect with the header 335 in the extension 334 of the pan. The ink is drained through exhaust 340 to a reservoir 343 from which it is again forced into the inlet pipe 342 under pressure by means of a circulating pump designated at P in Fig. 10.,

to force the ink into the, cells which make up the ink transfer surface. The ink is drawn upwardly on the surface of the gravure roller from the puddle in the trough 332 and from the spray applied by the header 335 against the underside of the doctor blade which slopes downwardly from its point of contact with the peripheral surface of the roller to provide apocket in which a relatively large pool of ink forms, thus still further tending to distribute and force the ink into the surface of the gravure roller. In order to obtain ade- 'quate inking of the roller at the relatively high speed of printing made possible with the present machine which may be in the orderof 400 feet, more or less,

per minute it has been found necessary to supply through the ink pressure supply system a substantial excess of ink beyond that which is actually consumed by the printing operation, this excess being in the order of 15;

times the amount of ink used. The excess is returned downwardly to the arcuate portion 332 of the pan 218, then flows outwardly through the exhaust ducts 340 to the supply reservoir 343. It has been found that a pool of ink forms beneath the doctor blade, which is, more or less, proportional in size to the rate of linear movement of the roller surface. The excess ink provided finds its way downwardly into the pan and is drawn off through the exhaust ducts 340 above referred to. It will be understood that the ducts 340, together with the portion of the pan extending beneath the gravure roller and spray header 335, are constructed and arranged to provide sufficient ink storage to take care of the large return which follows the disintegration of the pool of ink built up beneath the doctor blade when the drive of the gravure roller is arrested.

Doctor blade assembly The doctor blade assembly, as b estshown in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, comprises a support shaft 346 which extends along the length of the printing unit and is supported for sliding movement on the rail 270 by means of guide along the length of the printing unit and a cover member 354 by means of which the doctor blade is rigidly clamped in position. The holder 352 is supported by means of support arms 356 pivotally mounted at intervals from the support shaft 346 so that 'the doctor blade is permitted to swing freely to and from an engaging position against the impression roller 216.

In accordance with the present invention a novel and improved mechanism is provided for controlling the movement of the doctor blade into and out of engagement with the impression roller 216 and for maintaining an. accurately controlled pressure of the doctor blade against the impression roller along the entire length of the unit. To this end a series of electrically controlled pneumatic cylinders are provided which are spaced along the length of the doctor blade slide and are connected to control the swinging movement of the doctor blade about the support shaft 346.

In the illustrated form of the invention five of these. cylinders are provided including a centrally located cylinder 358 (Fig. 8) which, as hereinafter described, is

a double acting braking cylinder, and four additional cylinders 360 which are employed primarily to maintain a required ev'en pressure of the doctor blade against the impression roller along the full length of these parts. Each of the cylinders 358 and 36% is mounted on an upwardly extending arm 362 formed integrally with a respective guide bracket 348. Each cylinder is provided with a piston 364' which is pivotally secured to a lug 366 formed integrally with pivoted support arm 356'. The pivot for the piston 364 on the support arm 356 and lug 366 as will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 9 is located on a radial line from the pivot axis 346 which is" ang'ularly disposed upwardly from a radial line from the'pivot aXis 346 to the roller engaging edge of the doctor blade. This arrangement has the advantage that it greatly facilitates the movement of the doctor blade between adoctor blade engaging position and a retracted inoperative position, and also causes the movement of the" doctor blade to be appreciably slowed as it apofwl'iich the supply and exhaust of air to each of the cylinders is readily controlled. When air pressure is applied the four endcylinders 360 tend to force the doctor blade 35%) against theimpression cylinder 216.

This action, is, however, retarded by the operation of the centrally located double action cylinder 35% which acts to retard the downward movement of the doctor blade, and thus to prevent possible marking of the copper impression cylinder. Upon actuation of the solenoid control valves to reverse the flow of air to all of the cylinders, the doctor blade is moved rapidly to an inoperative limited position.

During the operation of the machine the doctor blade 220 is oscillated back and forth in a lengthwise direction to eliminate any possibility of scratching and to further assist in maintaining an even regulated fiow of ink from the impression roller onto the transfer roller 214.

The oscillating mechanism, as best shown in Figs. 6 and 7, comprises an eccentric 368 which is mounted at the rear end of the carriage on a bracket 370, fixed to the end casting 268, and is connected by an eccentric arm 372 with a guide bracket 348 secured to the rear end of the doctor blade support shaft 346. The eccentric is conveniently driven from a small motor 374 (see Fig. 7) through a belt and pulley drive 3'76 which connects with the input shaft 378 of gear box 386, the eccentric 368 being mounted on the output shaft 382 of this reduction gear box mechanism.

Second printing unit The second printing unit designated at D in Fig. l and more specifically shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, is substantially identical with the printing unit B, previously described, except for the provision of a novel means for securing an accurate register of the impression produced thereby on the traveling sheet of webbing longitudinally as well as laterally with' relation to the impression produced on the sheet by the first printing unit B. The second printing unit comprises a base assembly including a base 400, a front standard 402, a rear standard dlld, and an additional spacer member 4% for maintaining these parts rigidly in position. A driving support roller 4% isbmounte'd in the base assembly of the printing unit, being supported in bearing blocks 410 mounted for vertical adjustment in the respective front and rear standards. A control mechanism is provided for shifting the driving support roller 408 between a high operating and a low inoperative position which is similar to that previously described for effecting a similar shift between high and low positions of the first printing unit drive support roller Thismchanism includes a rock shaft 412 having at each end cams for engagement beneath the assassin bearing block's' 410; and a solenoid controlled pneumaticcylinder 414 for controlling" the position of the rock shaft;

The second printing unitD further comprises a carriag'e 4 16 mounted on guid'eways on the respective standards for movement transversely of the feeding strip. The carriage provides support for a transfer roller 418 mounted directly ab'oveithe driving support roller 408 and a gravure roller 420 mounted at that side of the transfer roller with the draw-in-unit A and at a level slightly above that of the transfer roller. The second printing unit is also provided with a doctor blade assembly including a doctor blade, not shown, with air control cylinders 421 and braking cylinder 423 (see Fig. 15), and an ink supply system.

Inasmuch as the construction and arrangement of the carriage 416,-the gravure roller 42% and transfer roller 41% together withthe supporting devices therefor, the doctorblade assembly and ink supply devices are in all respects identical with the corresponding parts of the first printing unit above described, .a further detailed description or illustration of these parts is believed unnecessary and will be omitted.

The drive supportroller 408 for the second printing unit is driven from the torque shaft 30, through a gear box 430 and vertical output shaft 432, having a bevel gear 434 splined thereto for engagement with a bevel gear 436 mounted from the rear end of the drive support roller 408.

The drive for the transfer roller 418 and gravure roller 420 of the second printing unit is taken from the gear box 43% through a horizontally disposed drive shaft 433 to the front side of the machine, and through bevel gears 44%, 442' to the input shaft 444 of a vertically disposed differential gear unit 446. The output sleeve member 44% from the unit aligned with the input shaft 444, carries a bevel gear 450 which meshes with a bevel gear 452 formed internally with a large spur gear 454 which in turn meshes with a drivinggear secured to the forward end of the transfer roller 418. Said driving gear meshes also with a driving gear 458 on the gravui'e roller 420.

The" differential gear unit 446 which may be considered to be of ordinary construction is controlled by means of a vertically disposed control shaft 460 (see Fig. 12). The shaft 450 is in turn controlled through suitable connections to effect an angular adjustment of the second printing unit transfer roller 418 and gravure roller sac with relation to the driving mechanism for the machine, and thereby to obtain adjustment of the impression imparted to the feeding web longitudinally thereof.

As shown in Figs. 13 and 14, worm gear 479 secured to the upper end of the control shaft 460 is in mesh with a worm 472 on a hand wheel supporting shaft 478. A hand wheel 48%, loosely supported to turn on the shaft 478, is arranged to be connected therewith by means of a clutch 482. A compression spring 484- tends normally to maintain the hand wheel in an extended inoperative position.

The illustrated machine is provided with electrical devices under the control of the operator for controlling the operation of the air cylinders, above described, by means of which the doctor bladesare moved into and out of operating engagement with the respective gravure rollers. Provision is made for controlling individually the operation of the doctor blade associated-with each printing unit, as shown in the diagrammatic Fig. 15. The electrical devices for moving the doctor blade associated with the first printing unit, into and out of operating position. comprise a series of solenoid operated air valves 54-6 mounted integrally with eachof the doctor blade actuating cylinders 360 anclbraking cylinder 358.

Each solenoid air valve 546 is provided with raise and lower control leads marked respectively as R and L, and intermediate terminal 548. Each of the terminals 543 is connected in parallel to a wire 550 of a two-wire system connected with a power supply transformer 552. The R terminals are connected in parallel to a wire 554 9:. which is in turn connected through a manually operable push button switch 556 with a wire 563 connected to the power supply transformer. The L-terminals are connected in parallel to a wire 560 which is turn connected to a manually operated pushbutton switch 562 with said wire 563 connected to the power supply transformer 552. c

The electrical devices for controlling the operation of the second printing unit are similar to those above described for controlling the doctor blade assembly associated with the first printing unit.v Each of the doctor blade operating cylinders 421, 423, associated with the second printing unit, is provided with a solenoid air valve 564 having raise and lower control positions, and arranged to be controlled by normally opened raise and lower push button switches 566, 568 which are connected with the two wires 558, 563 from the power supply transformer 552.

The operation of the doctor blade control devices is as follows: 7

Assuming that the doctor blade is in its raised operative position the operator pushes the lower push button,

' switch 556 associated with the first printing unit, thereby simultaneously energizing the solenoids, and thereby conditioning the valve units to admit air to each of the cylindrers 360 and 358 to move the doctor blade against the gravure roller. The air valves remain in their open positions so that air is supplied continuously to the air cylinders to maintain an evenly distributed pressure upon the doctor blade against the gravure roller. As previously noted the cylinder 358 is of the so-called doubleacting type and acts as a brake to slow the rate of movement of the blade against the roller to prevent possible marking or injury thereto. When it is desired to move the doctor blade to its inoperative position the operator will press the raise push button 562 to energize the R solenoids, and thereby to condition the air valves to exhaust air from the cylinders 360 and to reverse the fiow of air to the cylinder 358. The doctor blade now moves upwardly in response to the action of the double acting cylinder 358 to a high inoperative position.

The invention having been described what is claimed 1s:

It In a machine for roller printing webs of paper base and similar fibrous web materials, the combination with a web conveyor constructed and arranged to draw the web continuously along a run lying substantially in a horizontal plane between draw-in and draw-off stations, the combination of a printing unit for printing a portion of the web passing along said run which comprises a support roller supported from the machine with its axis transverse to the direction of said run to engage the underside of the web, a cooperating impression roller supported from the machine to turn on an axis vertically above and parallel to the axis of the support roller for engagement with the upper side of the web, a gravure roller supported at the same side of the impression roller with the drive-in station having a rolling contact with the impression roller and with its axis parallel thereto and at a higher level than the axis of the-impression roller so that the direction of rotation of the gravure roller will cause the gravuretroller, to be supported by the transfer roller with which it is in contact, a substantial clearance is provided between the gravuregroller and the web, and both of said impression roller and gravure roller are partially supported along their length by said support roller," and devices for applying ink to the gravure roller.

2. In a machine for roller printing webs of paper base and similar fibrous web materials having a limited stretch characteristic, the combination of a web conveyor constructed and arranged to draw the web along a run lying substantially in a horizontal plane between draw-in and draw-E stations, a drive support roller beneath the web at each of said stations, and a printing unit for printing a portion of theweb passing along said run which com prises a support'roller supported from the'machine with its axis transverse to the direction of said run to engagethe underside of the web, a cooperating impression roller supported from the machine to turn on an axis vertically above the axis of the support roller for engagement with the upper side of the" web, a gravure roller supported from the machine at the same side ofthe impression roller with the drive-in station having a rolling contact with the impression roller and its axis p'arallelto and at i a; higher level than the axis of the impression roller so that the direction of rotation of the gravure roller will cause the gravure roller to be supported by the transfer roller with which it is in contact, a substantial clearance is provided between the gravure roller and the web, and both of said impression roller and gravure roller are partially supported along their length by said support roller, inking devices for the gravure roller disposed above the web, and driving means for driving each of said support rollers and impression and gravure rollers at predetermined linear rates.

3. In a machine for roller printing webs of paper base and similar fibrous web materials, the combination with a web conveyor constructed and arranged to draw the web continuously along a run lying substantially in a horizontal plane between draw-in and draw-off stations, the combination of a printing unit for printing a portion of the web passing along said run, which comprises a support roller supported from the machine with its axis transverseto the direction of said run to engage the underside of the web, a cooperating impression roller supported from the machine to turn on an axis vertically above the axis of the support roller to engage the upper side of the web, means on said unit for manually adjusting the vertical position and pressure exerted by the impression roller against the support roller, a gravure roller supported laterally of and at the same side of the impression roller with the drive-in station having a rolling contact with the impression roller and with its axis at a higher level than the axis of the impression roller to provide a substantial clearance for said gravure roller above the web, devices for applying ink to the gravure roller including an ink collecting pan extending beneath the gravure roller and above the web, a device for spraying ink against the gravure roller along its length, means for collecting and returning excess ink in said pan to said ink spraying device for maintaining a continuous circulation of said ink, and a doctor blade disposed above the spraying device for scraping excess ink from the gravure roller into said pan.

4. In a machine for roller printing webs of paper base and similar fibrous web materials, the combination with a web conveyor' constructed and arranged to draw a web continuously at a feed rate along a substantially horizontal run between draw-in and draw-off stations, of a printing unit comprising a driving support roller mounted on the machine to engage the underside of the web, a cooperating impression transfer roller engaging the upper side of the web, a gravure roller supported laterally of the impression transfer roller with a substantial clearance ofsaid gravure roller above said web and having a line contact with the impression transfer roller, means driving each of said rollers at said linear feed rate, and inking devices comprising pressure supply means including a header for sprayingink continuously against and a doctor blade having a line contact with the gravure roller for scraping excess ink from the gravure roller.

5. In a machine for roller printing webs of paper base and similar materials, the combination with a web conveyor constructed and arranged to draw a web continuously at a feed rate along a substantiallyhorizontal run between draw-in and draw-off stations, of 'a printing-unitcomprising a driving support roller mounted on the-machine to engage the underside ofthe web, a cooperating impression transfer roller engaging the upper side of the web, a gravure roller supportedlaterally of the impression transfer roller with a substantial clearance of said gravure roller above'said web and having line contact with the impression transfer roller, means driving each of said rollers at said feed'rate, and'inking devices comprising means continuously spraying ink against the gravure roller in amounts substantially in excess of the 6. In a machine for roller printing webs of-paperbase and similar fibrous web materials, the combination with a web conveyor constructed and arranged to draw a web continuously at a feed rate along a substantially horizontal run between draw-in and draw-off stations, of a printing unit comprising a driving support roller mounted on the machine to engage the underside of the web, a cooperating impression transfer roller engaging the upper side of the web, a gravure roller supported laterally of the impression transfer roller with a substantial clearance of said gravure roller above said Web and havinga line" contact 'with the impression transfer roller, and inking devices comprising a header disposed adjacent to and v the header, an ink collecting pan disposedbeneath tlie header and gravure roller, and above the traveling Web; drainage connections from the pan for excess ink, a reservoir to which the ink is returned, and a pump for continuously supplying ink from the reservoir through said" connections to the gravure roller substantially in excess of the ink taken by the gravure roller, and a doctor blade having a line contact with the gravure roller above the level of said header arranged to cooperate with the rotating gravure roller during operation toform a pool of ink between the gravure roller and doctor blade.-

7. In a machine for roller printing webs ofvpaperbase and similar fibrous web materials, the combination of. a

web conveyor comprising means for drawing the web" continuously along a run in a substantially horizontal plane between draw-in and draw-off stations; and a' printing unit disposed on said run comprising a frame,.a:

driving support roller mounted on the frameforengag: ing the underside of the web, a carriage adjustable transversely of the web on the frame, a cooperating impresv sion transfer roller mounted on the carriage. for engage:- ment with the upper side of the web, a gravurezroller mounted on the carriage engaging the impression transfer:

roller, inking devices for inking the gravure roller carried on the carriage, and a doctor blade assembly mounted on the carriage including a doctor blade, a doc-.

tor blade support movable longitudinally of the'roll'er axis, a series of supporting arms to. whichsaiddoctor blade is secured pivoted to said support in axialialigne ment at spaced intervals along the length of thensupport' and acting at a substantial angle to a; tangent at the point of contact of the doctor blade. withthe gravure-roller, brackets secured to said support associated with each of said supporting arms, and a series of air cylinders each-- pivotally connected between onegof said brackets .and'a supporting arm at a pointpon a radial line, from the; pivotofsa clsupporting arm angularly disposed upwardlyirom- 75:assembly whichcomprisessa doctor bladecxtending along a radial lineextending between the pivotal support and the rollerengaging edgeof the doctor blade, whereby said air'cylinders have a cantilever action to support the doctor blade against the gravure roller, and means for controlling the supply of air to said cylinders to engagethe doctor blade continuously yieldably against the roller at a uniform pressure along its length while the machine is roller printing. V

8. In a machine for roller'printing webs of paper base and similar fibrous web materials, having a web conveyor constructed and'arranged to draw the web continuously along a run between draw-in and draw-offstations, the combination of a printing unit for printing;

a' portion of the-web passing along said run which comprises a gravure roller and devices for applying ink to the gravure roller comprising aheader disposed adjacent to and extending substantially along the length of the gravureroller at one side thereof apertured for spraying ink continuously against the periphery of the gravure. roller, supply connections through which ink is supplied to the header, an ink collecting pan disposed beneath the header and gravure roller, being positioned and arranged with relation to the gravure roller to provide a puddle of ink through which the peripheral surface of the gravure roller passes, supply connections with the header through which ink is supplied to the header, drainage connections from the pan for excess ink, a reservoir to which the ink is returned, a pump for continuouslysupplying ink from the reservoir through said connections to the gravure roller in amounts substantially in excess of the amount of ink taken by the gravurelroller, and a doctor blade having aligned contact with the gravure roller above the level of said header arranged to cooperate with the rotating gravure roller during machine operation to form a pool of ink between the gravure roller and the doctor blade, whereby said ink is spread along the length of'the gravure roller by passage of said peripheral surface through the pan, is further spread and driven into the cells of the gravure roller by the said spray, and'is still further spread by the pool of ink formed under the edge of the doctor blade to provide a continuous and even inking of the gravure the doctor blade is pivotally supported for movement into line contact with the roller; and away therefrom including a doctor blade support extending longitudinally of the roller axis, a series of supporting arms to which said doctor blade is secured pivoted to said support in axial'alignment at spaced intervals along the length of the support and acting at a substantial angle to a tangent,

at the line of contact of the doctor blade with the gravure roller, brackets secured to said support associated with each of said'supporting arms, and a series of air cylinders each pivotally connected between one of said brackets and a supporting'arm at a point along a radial line from the pivotof said supporting arm angularly disposed upwardly from the radial line extending be. tween the pivotal support and'the roller engagingledge of the doctor bladehaving a cantilever actionto move the doctor blade against and away from the gravure roller, and means-for controlling the supply of air to said cylinders to engage the doctor bladecontinuously yieldably against theroller at a uniform pressure along its length while the machine is roller printing.

10. In a machine for roller printing, the combination l a 13 the length of the roller, a supporting means on which the doctor blade is movable relatively to said supporting means into line contact with the roller and away therefrom including a doctor blade support extending longitudinally of the roller axis, a series of supporting arms to which said doctor blade is secured pivoted to said support in axial alignment at spaced intervals along the length of the support and acting at a substantial angle to a tangent to the line of contact of the doctor blade with the gravure roller, brackets secured to said support associated with each of said supporting arms, and a series of air cylinders each pivotally connected between one of said brackets and a supporting arm at a point along a radial line from the pivot of. said supporting arm angularly disposed upwardly from the radial line extending between the pivotal support and the roller engaging edge of said doctor blade, an electrically actuated air valve for controlling the supply of air under pressure to each of said several air cylinders, and elec-- trically operated controls for simultaneously shifting said air valves to move the doctor blade toward the gravure roller at a decelerating rate and to engage the doctor blade against the roller continuously and at a uniform pressure along the length of said blade, and alternatively to move the doctor blade to an inoperative position away from the gravure roller.

11. In a machine for roller printing, having a roller to which ink is applied and means for supplying ink to said roller in amounts substantially in excess of the ink taken by said roller, a doctor blade assembly according to claim in which each air cylinder is provided with an electrically controlled air valve having doctor blade advancing, doctor blade retracting and neutral positions.

' 12. In a machine for roller printing webs of paper base and similar fibrous Web materials the combination with a roller to which ink is applied and means for supplying ink to said roller, a doctor blade assembly according to claim '10 in which the plurality of air cylinders spaced along the length of the doctor blade include at least one braking cylinder operable during movement of the blade from said inoperative position against the gravure roller to' further retard the movement of the doctor blade against the gravure roller, and thereby to prevent possible marking of the gravure roller surface.

13. in a machine for roller printing webs of paper base and similar fibrous web materials, having a web conveyor constructed and arranged to draw the web continuously along a run between draw-in and draw-off stations, the combination of a printing unit for printing a portion of the web passing along said run which comprises a gravure roller and devices for applying ink to the gravure roller comprising a header disposed adjacent to and extending substantially along the length of the gravure roller at one side thereof apertured for spraying ink continuously against the periphery of the gravure roller, supplyconnections through which ink is supplied to the header, an ink collecting pan disposed beneath the header and gravure roller, being positioned and arranged with relation to the gravure roller to provide a puddle of ink through which the peripheral surface of the gravure roller passes, supply connections with the header through which ink is supplied to the header, drainage connections from the pan for excess ink, a reservoir to which the ink is returned, a pump for continuously supplying ink from the reservoir through said connections to the gravure roller in amounts substantially in excess of the amount of ink taken by the gravure roller, and a doctor blade having aligned contact with the gravure roller arranged to cooperate with the rotating gravure roller during machine operation to form a pool of ink between the gravure roller and the'doctor blade, whereby said ink is spread along the length of the gravure roller by passage of said peripheral surface through the pan, is driven into the cells of the gravure roller by said spray, and is further spread by the pool of ink formed under the edge of the doctor blade to provide a continuous and even inking of the gravure roller along its length.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENT S 1,837,671 Pirie Dec. 22, 1931 7 1,900,030 Von Webern Mar..7, 1933 1,994,493 Von Webern Mar. 19, 1935 2,163,035 Grupe June 20, 1939 2,267,380 Tyler Dec. 23, 1941 2,278,138 Paardecamp Mar. 31, 1942 2,637,270 Bamford- May 5, 1943 2,445,135 Curtis July 13, 1948 2,549,605 l-luck Apr. 17, 1951 2,550,454 Crafts Apr. 24, 1951 2,644,395 Peyrebrune July 7, 1953 

